jemadar

[jem-uh-dahr]

noun

1. any of various government officials.

2. the supervisor of a staff of servants.

3. an officer in a sepoy regiment, corresponding in rank to a lieutenant.

jemadar

/ ˈdʒɛməˌdɑː /

noun

1. a native junior officer belonging to a locally raised regiment serving as mercenaries in India, esp with the British Army (until 1947)

2. an officer in the Indian police

Word History and Origins

Origin of jemadar¹

1755–65; < Urdu jamadar, variant of jamdar < Persian < Arabic jamʿ aggregation + Persian dār holding, leader of

Word History and Origins

Origin of jemadar¹

C18: from Urdu jama `dār, from Persian jama `at body of men + dār having

Example Sentences

But the jemadar laughed at me.

From Project Gutenberg

Then we knew it was all true what the jemadar had said, and that they would take the whole Doab back, and put back the land-tax, and the salt-tax; and we thought too that they would make us all into Christians; but that they have not done, for so long as they get their taxes, and have high pay and good bungalows, and cow's flesh and beer, they don't care about, or reverence any religion, not even their own.

From Project Gutenberg

All the time the Feringhees were in Cawnpore, I lay hid in the jemadar's house.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as I had got to Cawnpore, I went straight to the jemadar's house, to see if he would recognize me; but he did not: for even my voice was hoarser and harsher than of old, through fever and exposure.

From Project Gutenberg

A few days before all this, I was standing about in the bazaar, when I met a jemadar.

From Project Gutenberg